Flexible display device

ABSTRACT

Provided is a flexible display device, including a flexible display panel and a support structure, the flexible display panel includes a main structure region, a bending region and an extension region, the bending region is bent to locate the extension region at a back of the main structure region, an accommodation space is formed between the main structure region, the extension region and the bending region, at least part of the support structure is located in the accommodation space, and one end of the support structure extends into a bending space surrounded by the bending region.

This is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/363,610, filed on Jun. 30, 2021, which is a continuation applicationof U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/633,360, filed on Jan. 23, 2020,a National Phase Application filed under 35 U.S.C. 371 as a nationalstage of PCT/CN2019/097275 filed on Jul. 23, 2019, an applicationclaiming the benefit to Chinese Application No. 201810870729.2, filed onAug. 2, 2018, the content of each of which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the priority to Chinese PatentApplication No. 201810870729.2 entitled “Flexible Display Device” filedon Aug. 2, 2018, which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of display technology, andin particular to a flexible display device.

BACKGROUND

A cover plate of a flexible display panel is very thin and can only beara small pressing force while being used by a user. As for the structureof the flexible display panel, a bending region structure is usuallyprovided in an edge area of a screen, a part of the structure of theflexible display panel can be bent to the back of the screen through thebending region, and a housing of the flexible display panel needs tokeep an empty space in the bending region, so that an accommodationspace is formed.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a flexible display device, including aflexible display panel and a support structure, wherein the flexibledisplay panel includes a main structure region, a bending region and anextension region, the bending region is bent to locate the extensionregion at a back of the main structure region, an accommodation space isformed between the main structure region, the extension region and thebending region, at least part of the support structure is located in theaccommodation space, and one end of the support structure extends into abending space surrounded by the bending region.

In some embodiments, the support structure is a plate-like structure.

In some embodiments, the end of the support structure extending into thebending space has a round corner structure.

In some embodiments, the support structure is a folded two-layer metalplate, a folded region of two layers of metal plate of the foldedtwo-layer metal plate forms a round corner close to the bending regionof the flexible display panel, a welding seam is formed between the twolayers of the metal plate, and one layer of metal plate close to themain structure region of the flexible display panel extends away fromthe bending region and beyond the other layer of metal plate close tothe extension region of the flexible display panel.

In some embodiments, a protruding support structure is integrallyprovided at the end of the support structure close to the bending regionas a single piece, the protruding support structure is located in thebending space surrounded by the bending region and protrudes toward themain structure region, and a gap is formed between the protrudingsupport structure and the bending region.

In some embodiments, a filling structure is disposed in the gap, and amaterial of the filling structure is rubber.

In some embodiments, the support structure is connected with the mainstructure region of the flexible display panel with an adhesive, and isconnected with the extension region of the flexible display panel withan adhesive.

In some embodiments, the adhesive is a double-sided tape.

In some embodiments, the display device further includes a first housingkeeping an empty space in the extension region and the bending region,and the one layer of metal plate of the support structure close to themain structure region of the flexible display panel extends away fromthe bending region and beyond the other layer of metal plate close tothe extension region of the flexible display panel, and the part of theone layer of metal plate, which is beyond the other layer of the metalplate, extends to the first housing and is overlapped with the firsthousing.

In some embodiments, the display device includes a first housing keepingan empty space in the extension region and the bending region, one endof the support structure away from the bending region is provided with afirst overlapping structure, one end of the first housing close to thesupport structure is provided with a second overlapping structurematched with the first overlapping structure, and the first overlappingstructure and the second overlapping structure are overlapped along adirection perpendicular to the flexible display panel.

In some embodiments, the first overlapping structure is integrated withthe support structure as a single piece, the second overlappingstructure is integrated with the first housing as single piece, both thefirst and second overlapping structures have reduced thicknesses in adirection perpendicular to the flexible display panel, an upper surfaceof the first overlapping structure facing the main structure region ofthe flexible display panel is flush with an upper surface of the supportstructure facing the main structure region of the flexible display paneland an upper surface of the first housing facing the main structureregion of the flexible display panel, and a lower surface of the secondoverlapping structure away from the main structure region of theflexible display panel is flush with a lower surface of the extensionregion of the flexible display panel away from the support structure.

In some embodiments, the flexible display device further includes atouch module, a cover plate, and a second housing, wherein the touchmodule is located on a side of the main structure region of the flexibledisplay panel away from the extension region, the second housingincludes a side structure and a main structure, the side structure islocated on an outer side of the flexible display panel, the mainstructure is located on one side of the flexible display panel close tothe extension region and surrounds the first housing, the cover plate islocated on one side of the touch module away from the main structureregion, and an outer side of the cover plate is located above the sidestructure of the second housing.

In some embodiments, the flexible display device further includes aprotruding structure of cover plate located on an edge of the coverplate close to the side structure, wherein one end of the protrudingstructure of cover plate is located at a position which keeps a distanceof 0.3 mm to 1 mm from an effective display area of the flexible displaypanel towards the edge of the cover plate, and the other end of theprotruding structure of cover plate is located on the outer side of thecover plate above the side structure of the second housing.

In some embodiments, the flexible display device further includes anexternal circuit located between the extension region and the mainstructure of the second housing.

In some embodiments, the external circuit includes a flexible printedcircuit board disposed in the extension region and extending to one sideof the first housing close to the second housing.

In some embodiments, the flexible display device further includes abuffer layer located between the main structure region and the supportstructure and between the main structure region and the first housing.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a flexible display device accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an accommodation space of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural view of a support structure of aflexible display device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic structural view of a metal support structure of aflexible display device according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 5 is a schematic structural view of a flexible display deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a schematic structural view of a flexible display deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a schematic structural view of a flexible display deviceaccording to the related art; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic structural view of a flexible display deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In order to enable those skilled in the art to better understand thetechnical solutions of the present disclosure, the flexible displaydevice provided in the present disclosure will be described in detailbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIG. 7 , a bending region of a screen is very likely to bedamaged due to frequently pressing at a display edge region of aflexible display panel 8, which will result in a short service lifetimeof a flexible display device. In FIG. 7 , F indicates a pressing force,and the arrow indicates a pressing direction.

Due to the accommodation space in the related art, the cover plate willbe excessively depressed during the pressing process, thereby damagingthe bending region.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a flexible display device accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure, which is a half of across-sectional view taken from a display surface along a directionperpendicular to a bending region in the view when the display device islaid flat. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of some structures of thedisplay device of FIG. 1 . As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the flexibledisplay device includes a flexible display panel 1 and a supportstructure 2, the flexible display panel 1 includes a main structureregion 11, a bending region 12 and an extension region 13, and thebending region 12 is configured to bend to locate the extension region13 at a back of the main structure region 11, a space between the mainstructure region 11, the extension region 13 and the bending region 12forms an accommodation space 3, and the support structure 2 is partiallyor completely located in the accommodation space 3. One end of thesupport structure 2 extends beyond a display region edge of the mainstructure region 11 and extends into a bending space 31 surrounded bythe bending region 12.

The main structure region 11 of the flexible display panel 1 is adisplay region provided with pixel structures for displaying an image,and the bending region 12 and the extension region 13 forms a peripheralregion other than the display region, the peripheral region is providedwith a circuit structure (also referred to as an external circuit), andan example of the peripheral region is provided with a circuit structuresuch as a lead wire and a circuit board. In some embodiments, thecircuit board is a Chip On Film (COF) or a Chip On Panel (COP).

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural view of a support structure of aflexible display device according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3 ,in one embodiment, the support structure 2 is a laminated thin platestructure. An upper layer of the two-layer structure in FIG. 3 isshorter, while a lower layer thereof is longer, and an extension part ofthe lower layer (that is, a first overlapping structure 14 describedbelow) is given a reference numeral of 14 in FIG. 3 . In anotherembodiment, the support structure 2 is a plate-like structure.

Illustratively, a material of the support structure 2 includes Plastic(PC), nylon+glass fiber (PA+GF), stainless steel (SUS), aluminum alloy,copper alloy, Rubber (Rubber), foam, etc.

In some of the above embodiments, the end of the support structureextending into the bending space has a round corner structure, that is,the end of the support structure 2 close to the bending region 12 isround.

In some embodiments, the flexible display device further includes afirst connection structure 4 and a second connection structure 5, thesupport structure 2 is connected with the main structure region 11 ofthe flexible display panel 1 by the first connection structure 4, andthe support structure 2 is connected with the extension region 13 of theflexible display panel 1 by the second connection structure 5. The firstconnection structure 4 is disposed on an entire surface of a side of thesupport structure 2 close to the main structure region 11 of theflexible display panel 1, and the second connection structure 5 isdisposed on an entire surface of a side of the support structure 2 closeto the extension region 13 of the flexible display panel 1.Illustratively, the first connection structure 4 and the secondconnection structure 5 each are adhesive, for example, a double-sidedtape.

In some embodiments, a gap 6 is provided between the support structure 2and the bending region 12 so as to prevent the bending region 12 frombeing pulled by the support structure 2 to deform or be damaged.

In some embodiments, the flexible display device further includes atouch module 7. The touch module 7 is located on a front surface of themain structure region 11 of the flexible display panel 1, that is, on adisplay surface of the flexible display panel 1 or a light emitting sideof the display device, and the touch module 7 is located in the mainstructure region 11 of the flexible display panel 1. The front surfaceof the main structure region 11 is on a side of the main structureregion 11 away from the extension region 13, and the back of the mainstructure region 11 is on a side of the main structure region 11 closeto the extension region 13. In some embodiments, the touch module 7 isattached to the main structure region 11 with an optical adhesive.Illustratively, the touch module 7 may be attached to the main structureregion 11 snugly. Illustratively, the touch module 7 is a touch panel.

In some embodiments, the flexible display device further includes acover plate 8 and a second housing 9, and the second housing 9 wraps anon-display side of the flexible display panel 1 and includes an endface of a flexible display screen and a back face opposite to a lightemitting face of the flexible display panel. The second housing 9includes a side structure 91 and a main structure 92, and the sidestructure 91 wraps a side of the flexible display panel 1, and the mainstructure 92 is located at a back of the flexible display panel 1. Thecover plate 8 is located on a side of the touch module 7 away from themain structure region 11. The cover plate 8 includes a part above thetouch module 7, and further includes an extending portion which extendsoutwards and is located above the side structure 91. For an example, thecover plate 8 is connected to the touch module 7 with an opticaladhesive.

Illustratively, the support structure 2 support the main structureregion 11 and the bending region 12 of the flexible display panel 1above an extension region in the accommodation space 3. When the coverplate 8 above the bending region 12 is depressed during a pressingprocess, the support structure 2 reduces damage to the bending region.

In some embodiments, a first housing 10 is disposed on the back of themain structure region 11, and is located at an end of the supportstructure 2 away from the bending region 12. The first housing 10 andthe second housing 9 are connected together to support the flexibledisplay device and protect the flexible display panel 1. The end of thesupport structure 2 away from the bending region 12 is provided with afirst overlapping structure 14, one end of the first housing 10, whichis close to the support structure 2, is provided with a secondoverlapping structure 15 which is matched with the first overlappingstructure 14, and the first overlapping structure 14 and the secondoverlapping structure 15 are overlapped. The first overlapping structure14 is an extension part of the support structure 2 towards the firsthousing 10, and the first overlapping structure 14 is integrated withthe support structure 2 as a single piece, upper surfaces of the firstoverlapping structure 14 and the support structure 2, which face theflexible display panel 1, are flush with each other, and the firstoverlapping structure 1 has a reduced thickness in a directionperpendicular to the flexible display panel 1. The second overlappingstructure 15 is an extension part of the first housing 10 towards thesupport structure 2, and has a reduced thickness in a directionperpendicular to the flexible display panel 1. A lower surface of thesecond overlapping structure 15 away from the main structure region 11is flush with a lower surface of the extension region 13 of the flexibledisplay panel 1 away from the support structure 2. The first overlappingstructure 14 and the second overlapping structure 15 are arranged alonga direction perpendicular to the flexible display panel 1, and the firstoverlapping structure 14 covers the second overlapping structure 15.Illustratively, the first overlapping structure 14 and the secondoverlapping structure 15 fill each other, and an upper surface of thesupport structure 2 is flush with an upper surface of the first housing10, so as to firmly support the flexible display panel 1 as a whole.

Furthermore, the first overlapping structure 14 and the secondoverlapping structure 15 are fixedly connected with an adhesive, so asto fixedly connect the support structure 2 with the first housing 10.Illustratively, the adhesive may be a double-sided tape, or glue.

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural view of a support structure of aflexible display device according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3 ,the support structure 2 is a laminated thin plate structure, one sidethereof close to the bending region 12 is formed into a round cornerstructure, and the other side thereof opposite to the round cornerstructure is formed into the first overlapping structure 14. The firstoverlapping structure has a reduced thickness, and a surface thereofconnected to the main structure region 11 of the flexible display panel1 is formed as a plane. Illustratively, the side of the supportstructure 2 opposite to the round corner structure thereof is matchedwith the first housing 10 to achieve a fixed connection, therebyensuring that the flexible display panel 1 is provided with a stablesupport in a Z-direction perpendicular to the flexible display panel 1.

FIGS. 3 and 4 each are a schematic structural view of a metal supportstructure of a flexible display device according to some embodiments. Inthe embodiments, the support structure 2 is a folded two-layer metalplate, a folded region of the two-layer metal plate forms a round cornerclose to the bending region of the flexible display panel 1, a weldingseam is formed between the two layers of the metal plate, and the layerof the metal plate close to the main structure region 11 of the flexibledisplay panel 1 extends away from the bending region and beyond theother layer of the metal plate close to the extension region 13 of theflexible display panel, so as to form the first overlapping structure14. As shown in FIG. 4 , in a case that the support structure 2 is madeof metal, which is, for example, stainless steel, aluminum, aluminumalloy, copper, or copper alloy, a plate-like structure is formed by astamping process, and then is folded, and opposite inner surfaces of thefolded plate-like structure are welded to form the support structure 2having the first overlapping structure 14. The end of the supportstructure 2 away from the first overlapping structure 14 is formed intoa round corner structure so as to avoid scratching the bending region 12to the greatest extent. When the support structure 2 is made of metal,the support structure 2 also plays a role in conducting heat to conductheat of the flexible display panel out to the external environment.

In some embodiments, the flexible display device further includes anexternal circuit 16 independent of the display panel. The externalcircuit 16 is located between the extension region 13 and the mainstructure 92 of the second housing 9. Illustratively, the externalcircuit 16 includes a battery and/or a motherboard assembly.

In some embodiments, the flexible display device further includes aflexible printed circuit board (FPC) 18. The flexible printed circuitboard 18 is disposed under the first housing 10 and extends to the lowersurface of the extension region 13. The flexible printed circuit board18 is located between the extension region 13 and the main structure 92,and specifically, the flexible printed circuit board 18 is locatedbetween the extension region 13 and the external circuit 16.

In some embodiments, the flexible display device further includes aprotruding structure of cover plate 17 located on an edge of the coverplate 8 close to the side structure 91. Part of the protruding structureof cover plate 17 is located above the side structure 91, and theremaining part of the protruding structure of cover plate 17 is locatedabove a peripheral region outside an effective display area (Area A-A)of the flexible display panel 1. The protruding structure of cover plate17 extends from an edge of the effective display area by a certain safedistance to reach an edge of the cover plate 8. Referring to FIG. 5 , anedge of the protruding structure of cover plate 17 is located at aposition which keeps a distance of 0.3 mm to 1 mm from the effectivedisplay area towards the edge of the cover plate. In some embodiments,an end of the protruding structure of cover plate 17 on a side of theeffective display area has a gradually reducing thickness, as shown inFIG. 8 , so as to minimize an influence on touch performance of theflexible display device and improve the appearance thereof. Theprotruding structure of cover plate 17 may enhance strength of the coverplate 8, so as to protect the flexible display panel 1. When there is anexternal force, one end of the protruding structure of cover plate 17 issupported by the flexible display panel 1, the touch module 7 and thecover plate 8, the other end thereof is supported by the side structure91 of the second housing 9, and the protruding structure of cover plate17 is thicker, so that deformation of the cover plate 8 above thebending region 12 is reduced, thereby further improving deformation ofthe bending region 12.

In some embodiments, the protruding structure of cover plate 17 isintegrally formed with the cover plate 8 as a single piece; in someembodiments, the protruding structure of cover plate 17 is formed byconnecting a plate or a molded part with the cover plate 8, and isdisposed on the cover plate 8 with adhesive or glue, or by means ofmolding. A material of the protruding structure of cover plate 17 isplastic or metal. A shape of the protruding structure of cover plate 17may be set as required.

In some embodiments, the flexible display device further includes abuffer layer 19 located on a side of the main structure region 11 closeto the extension region 13. The buffer layer 19 plays a role insupporting the flexible display panel 1. Illustratively, a material ofthe buffer layer 19 is foam.

In the technical solutions of the flexible display device provided bythe embodiments, the flexible display panel includes the main structureregion, the bending region and the extension region, and the bendingregion is bent so as to locate the extension region at the back of themain structure region, an accommodation space is formed between the mainstructure region, the extension region and the bending region, and thesupport structure is located in the accommodation space, and can providesupport in the accommodation space, so as to eliminate influences ofdepressions of different degrees of the cover plate on the bendingregion during pressing processes.

FIG. 5 is a schematic structural view of a flexible display deviceaccording to embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 5 ,in some embodiments, a protruding support structure 20 is integrallyprovided at the end of the support structure 2 close to the bendingregion 12, the protruding support structure 20 is located in the bendingregion 12 and protrudes toward the main structure region 11 of theflexible display panel 1, and the gap 6 is provided between theprotruding support structure 20 and the bending region 12. By providingthe protruding support structure 20 on a side of the support structure2, space utilization may be improved to increase the support of thebending region 12, thereby further improving deformation of the bendingregion 12. In some embodiments, when the support structure 2 is made ofmetal, the protruding support structure 20 is integrally formed by meansof numerical control machining. In some embodiments, when the supportstructure 2 is made of plastic, rubber, etc., the protruding supportstructure 20 is integrally formed by means of injection molding. Theprotruding support structure 20 is formed into a round corner structureto avoid scratching the bending region 12.

As for other structures of the flexible display device in theembodiments, please refer to the description of the foregoingembodiments, which will not be repeated here.

In the technical solutions of the flexible display device provided bythe embodiments, the flexible display panel includes the main structureregion, the bending region and the extension region, and the bendingregion is bent so as to locate the extension region at the back of themain structure region, an accommodation space is formed between the mainstructure region, the extension region and the bending region, and thesupport structure is located in the accommodation space, and can providesupport in the accommodation space, so as to eliminate influences ofdepressions of different degrees of a cover plate on a bending regionduring pressing processes.

FIG. 6 is a schematic structural view of a flexible display deviceaccording to embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments,a filling structure 21 is disposed in the gap 6.

Illustratively, a material of the filling structure 21 is rubber. Inpractical applications, the filling structure 21 may be made of anyother elastic material, which is not listed here.

In some embodiments, the filling structure 21 is combined with thesupport structure 2 by an insert-molding process. Specifically, thesupport structure 2 is placed in an injection mold in advance and fixed,and then a material of the filling structure is injected.

In some embodiments, by disposing the filling structure 21 in the gap 6,space utilization may be improved to increase the support of the bendingregion 12, thereby further improving deformation of the bending region12. Since the rubber is soft, interference setting can be appropriatelyperformed.

In the technical solutions of the flexible display device provided bythe embodiments, the flexible display panel includes the main structureregion, the bending region and the extension region, and the bendingregion is bent so as to locate the extension region at the back of themain structure region, an accommodation space is formed between the mainstructure region, the extension region and the bending region, and thesupport structure is located in the accommodation space, and can providesupport in the accommodation space, so as to eliminate influences ofdepressions of different degrees of a cover plate on a bending regionduring pressing processes.

It should be understood that, the above embodiments are merely exemplaryembodiments which are employed to illustrate the principle of thepresent disclosure, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.Various changes and modifications can be made by those skilled in theart without departing from the spirit and essence of the presentdisclosure, and should be considered to fall within the protection scopeof the present disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A flexible display device, comprising a flexibledisplay panel and a support structure, wherein the flexible displaypanel comprises a main structure region, a bending region and anextension region, the bending region is bent to locate the extensionregion at a back of the main structure region, an accommodation space isformed between the main structure region, the extension region and thebending region, at least part of the support structure is located in theaccommodation space, wherein the flexible display device furthercomprises a cover plate and a housing, wherein the housing comprises aside structure and a main structure, the side structure is located on anouter side of the flexible display panel, the main structure of thehousing is located on one side of the flexible display panel close tothe extension region, the cover plate is located on one side of the mainstructure region away from the support structure; and the flexibledisplay device further comprises a protruding structure of cover platelocated on an edge of the cover plate close to the side structure. 2.The flexible display device of claim 1, wherein the support structure isa plate-like structure.
 3. The flexible display device of claim 2,wherein the end of the support structure extending into the bendingspace has a round corner structure.
 4. The flexible display device ofclaim 2, wherein the support structure is a folded two-layer metalplate, a folded region of two layers of metal plate of the foldedtwo-layer metal plate forms a round corner close to the bending regionof the flexible display panel, a welding seam is formed between the twolayers of metal plate, and one layer of metal plate close to the mainstructure region of the flexible display panel extends away from thebending region and beyond the other layer of metal plate close to theextension region of the flexible display panel.
 5. The flexible displaydevice of claim 4, wherein a protruding support structure is integrallyprovided at the end of the support structure close to the bending regionas a single piece, the protruding support structure is located in thebending space surrounded by the bending region and protrudes toward themain structure region, and a gap is formed between the protrudingsupport structure and the bending region.
 6. The flexible display deviceof claim 5, wherein a filling structure is disposed in the gap, and amaterial of the filling structure is rubber.
 7. The flexible displaydevice of claim 5, wherein the support structure is connected with themain structure region of the flexible display panel with an adhesive,and is connected with the extension region of the flexible display panelwith an adhesive.
 8. The flexible display device of claim 7, wherein theadhesive is a double-sided tape.
 9. The flexible display device of claim8, further comprising a first housing structure keeping an empty spacein the extension region and the bending region, wherein the one layer ofmetal plate of the support structure close to the main structure regionof the flexible display panel extends away from the bending region andbeyond the other layer of metal plate close to the extension region ofthe flexible display panel, and the part of the one layer of metalplate, which is beyond the other layer of the metal plate, extends tothe first housing structure and is overlapped with the first housingstructure.
 10. The flexible display device of claim 2, furthercomprising a first housing structure keeping an empty space in theextension region and the bending region, wherein one end of the supportstructure away from the bending region is provided with a firstoverlapping structure, one end of the first housing structure close tothe support structure is provided with a second overlapping structurematched with the first overlapping structure, and the first overlappingstructure and the second overlapping structure are overlapped along adirection perpendicular to the flexible display panel.
 11. The flexibledisplay device of claim 10, wherein the first overlapping structure isintegrated with the support structure as a single piece, the secondoverlapping structure is integrated with the first housing structure asa single piece, both the first and second overlapping structures havereduced thicknesses in a direction perpendicular to the flexible displaypanel, an upper surface of the first overlapping structure facing themain structure region of the flexible display panel is flush with anupper surface of the support structure facing the main structure regionof the flexible display panel and an upper surface of the first housingstructure facing the main structure region of the flexible displaypanel, and a lower surface of the second overlapping structure away fromthe main structure region of the flexible display panel is flush with alower surface of the extension region of the flexible display panel awayfrom the support structure.
 12. The flexible display device of claim 1,wherein the protruding structure of cover plate is partially overlappedwith the side structure of the housing; and/or one end of the protrudingstructure of cover plate is located at a position which keeps a distanceof 0.3 mm to 1 mm from an effective display area of the flexible displaypanel towards the edge of the cover plate, and the other end of theprotruding structure of cover plate is located on the outer side of thecover plate above the side structure of the housing.
 13. The flexibledisplay device of claim 12, further comprising an external circuitlocated between the extension region and the main structure of thehousing.
 14. The flexible display device of claim 13, wherein theexternal circuit comprises a flexible printed circuit board disposed inthe extension region and extending to one side of the first housingstructure close to the housing.
 15. The flexible display device of claim14, further comprising a buffer layer located between the main structureregion and the support structure and between the main structure regionand the first housing structure.
 16. The flexible display device ofclaim 15, wherein a gap is formed between the support structure and thebending region, and a filing structure is provided in the gap.
 17. Theflexible display device of claim 16, wherein a material of the fillingstructure is rubber.
 18. The flexible display device of claim 17,further comprising a touch module, wherein the touch module is locatedon a side of the main structure region of the flexible display panelaway from the extension region; the cover plate is located on one sideof the touch module away from the main structure region.
 19. Theflexible display device of claim 18, further comprising a first housingstructure located at a back of the main structure region and at the endof the support structure away from the bending region, wherein one endof the support structure away from the bending region is provided with afirst overlapping structure, one end of the first housing structureclose to the support structure is provided with a second overlappingstructure matched with the first overlapping structure, and the firstoverlapping structure and the second overlapping structure areoverlapped along a direction perpendicular to the flexible displaypanel; and the first overlapping structure is integrated with thesupport structure as a single piece, the second overlapping structure isintegrated with the first housing structure as a single piece, both thefirst and second overlapping structures have reduced thicknesses in adirection perpendicular to the flexible display panel, an upper surfaceof the first overlapping structure facing the main structure region ofthe flexible display panel is flush with an upper surface of the supportstructure facing the main structure region of the flexible display paneland an upper surface of the first housing structure facing the mainstructure region of the flexible display panel, and a lower surface ofthe second overlapping structure away from the main structure region ofthe flexible display panel is flush with a lower surface of theextension region of the flexible display panel away from the supportstructure.
 20. The flexible display device of claim 12, wherein an endof the protruding structure of cover plate on a side of the effectivedisplay area has a gradually reducing thickness; and/or the protrudingstructure of cover plate is integrally formed with the cover plate as asingle piece.